Folding bed.



PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. 'I'. J. HUBBARD.

FOLDING BED.

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O d U am. o' o ce@ o o WW PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

F. J. HUBBRD. FOLDING BED. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1o. 1905.

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F. J. HUBBARD. FOLDING BED.

i APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1905.

PATENTBD IFEB. 20, 1906.

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No. 813,004. PATBNTED PEB. 20, 1906.

F. J. HUBBARD.

FOLDING BED'.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wUNTIED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. PARDRIDGE AND HENRY BLACKVVELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING BEDl Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254,704.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. HUB- BARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in lthe county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding beds of the general class, more especially in which the head and foot posts at opposite sides of the bed are connected together by rails to form front and rear frames, which at the head and foot posts are connected together by lazy-tongs to move toward and awayfrom each other in the folding and unfolding operations of the bed and in which a swinging mattress support orframe is pivotally connected with the said front and rear frames in a manner to cause it when turned toward the vertical planeto move the said frames toward each other and when turned toward the horizontal plane to move said frames away from each other.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement upon` the folding bed shown and vdescribed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 783,204, granted to me February 21, 1905, my present objects being to provide a construction in which the operations of folding and unfolding the bed may be performed with less eort, which will render it possible to materially decrease the height of the'head and foot frames and which will permit locking of the bed in its unfolded or opened position, as well as when folded or closed.

It is further my object to provide improvements in certain details of the construction, all to the end of rendering it more perfect and desirable for its purpose.

In the drawings, Figurel 1 is an end elevation of the bed folded; Fig. 2, a similar view of the bed unfolded; Fig. 3, an enlarged broken fragmental view of one of the rear posts with moving parts extended Figs. 4 and 5, broken plan sections taken, respectively, on lines 4 and 5 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a view corresponding with Fig. 3, but showing the moving parts in contracted position; Fig. 7, a broken fragmental view of one of the front posts 5 Fig'. 8,' a broken vertical section of one of the rear posts, the section being taken on line 8 in Fig. 4 Figs. 9 and 10, enlarged detail sections taken on lines 9 and 10 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 1l, a perspective view, somewhat diagrammatio, illustrating means for locking the bed when opened or unfolded; and Fig. 12, a broken view illustrating a modified construction.

The two front posts A are fastened together by means of a rail a, secured at the openings a a, (see Fig. 7,) and the rear posts B are fastened together by means of a rear rail b, Fig.V 11 secured at the openings b b. (See Fig. 6.) The front and rear rails mentioned maybe like those illustrated in my aforesaid patent, and as they do not enter into my present improvement it is not thought necessary to further illustrate them. The lazy-tongs C are pivotally fastened to the ears c on the posts, and along their lower edge portions they slide in vertical guides d, formed in sectional sleeve-castings D E, surrounding the posts and fastened thereto. The rail-attaching openings a, above mentioned, are in the castings D, and. the rail-attaching openings b are in the castings E. Formed integral with each casting E is a horizontally extending arm E, bifurcated to form the horizontal guide-slot c. In the forks of each part E at opposite sides of the slot c are longitudinally-extending guide-recesses f at one side, in which fit a sliding plate or eX- tension F, provided on one side with lugs g, fitting through the slot c. Fastened against the lugs gis a retaining-plate 7L, which in sliding against the face of the arm E holds the parts together in siding relation. In the free end portion of each sliding extension F is an oblong guide-slot fi, surrounded by a flange i.

The mattress-support is a frame formed with angle-iron end bars G, spaced apart in a common manner, in rigid relation by means of suitable side rods or bars. (Not shown.) The bars G are provided on their inner sides near but in rear of their transverse centers with laterally-extending antifriction-rollers H, each having an annular surface 7c, moving in the adjacent flange i, and an enlarged annular end surface k, moving in the adjacent guide-opening i. The rollers II form the pivots or fulcrums on which the mattressframe swings between vertical and. horizontal positions. On the inner side of. each sleevecasting E at the upper side of the arm E/ is a lug E2, to which is pivoted one end of a link I. Each link I is pivoted at its opposite end against the side vof the adjacent bar G in rear` IOO of the roller H. On each end bar G of the mattress-frame in the position shown is a bracket G, to which is pivoted oneend of a swinging link K, pivotally connected at its opposite end to a lug on the side of the adj acent sleeve-casting D, as indicated in Fig. 7.

When the bed is opened or unfolded, the mattress-frame at its forward edge rests upon shoulders a2 on the front posts of the bed. To fold the bed, the mattress-frame is raised on its fulcrums H, thereby drawing the forward frame of the bed in the backward direction. In my former construction the fulcrum of the mattress frame was close to the rear vedge thereof, requiring the operator to lift nearly the entire weight of the mattress-frame and bedding thereon for the purpose of closing the bed. In my present construction when the mattress-frame is in its horizontal position the fulcrum thereof is so near midway between the ends of the bars G that but slight effort is necessary to raise it on its fulcrums. When the mattress-frame is in its horizontal position, the rollers H are in the outer end portions of the slots i. During the initial raising of the forward side of the mattress-frame and consequent lowering of the rear side thereof the links I swing downward to the position indicated by the dotted line :r in Figs. 3 and 6, drawing the rollers H to the rear ends of the slots i, as indicated by dotted circles in Fig. 3. When the rollers have reached the said position, the mattress-frame extends in the inclined plane indicated by the dotted line y in Fig. 3. Further raising of the forward side of the mattress-frame causes it to force each sliding extension F from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 6, at which time the mattress-frame will extend vertically, as indicated by the dotted line y in Fig. 6. In the movement of the mattressframe tothe vertical position the forward posts and frame are drawn and slid backward upon the floor by the links K, folding the bed, as shownin Fig. l. To open the bed, the mattress-frame is drawn from its top side in the forward downward direction, causing it first to move to the position indicated by the dotted line y2 by sliding the fulcrums I-I toward the outer ends of the sliding extensions F, after which the extensions are moved outward to the position indicated in Fig. 3, at which time the mattress-frame will rest at its forward edge upon the front rail of the bed-frame.

Means for locking the bed when folded may be provided, as shown in my aforesaid patent. In the present construction, owing to the distance between the rear edge of the mattressframe and the fulcrum, it is necessary to provide means for preventing the beds closing under weight imposed upon the rear portion of the mattress-frame. Locking means for this purpose are shown in Fig. ll. Journaled in brackets Z on the under side hof one of themattress-frame end bars G is a rockshaft L, having a handle m and a returnspring n. On the rear end of the shaft L is a head or cross-bar L, carrying at its upper end a pivotal sliding catch p, adapted to engage a shoulder g on the'sleevecasting E on the adjacent rear post B. Pivotally connected with the lower end of the cross-bar or head L and extending therefrom to the opposite mattress-frame bar G is a rod L2, carrying a pivotal catch p', adapted to engage a shoulder g on the other post B. When the mattress-frame is swung to the horizontal position to rest at its forward edge on the shoulders av2 of the bed-frame, the catches p 7,9 engage the shoulders Q on the rear posts. The catches are caused to slide over the shoulders under the resilient force of the spring n, thus locking the mattress-frame firmly against turning. When it is desired to close the bed, vthe rock-shaft L is turned against the resistance of the spring n through the medium of the handle m to Withdraw the catches from the shoulders q, thereby unlocking the mattress-frame and permitting it to be swung to close or' fold the bed.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 12 the ends G of the mattress-frame are fulcrumed on swinging links X, which take the modified constructions not` only render it very easy to close the bed, but also causes the rear edge of the mattress-frame to move very close to the iioor when the bed is folded. In my former construction in a full-sized or double bed the top of the mattress-frame when folded extended a foot or more higher than in the present construction, thus necessitating the employment of a bed-frame having head and foot ends of the same or slightly greater height. In the present construction the head and foot ends of the bed-frame maybe of materiallyless height, which is a great advantage in the matter of appearance and in reducing the weight of the bed. The slotted sleevesI) E tend greatly toward strengthening the bed and form a most desirable construction for guiding the ksliding end portions of the lazytongs.

What vI claim asy new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

IOO

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1. In a folding bed, the combination with catch mechanism operating automatically to lock the mattress-support, when in its hori- Zonta] position, against closing movement, and catch-releasing means.

3. In a folding bed having frames which slide toward and away from each other in the folding and unfolding operations, a verticallyswinging mattress-support having parallel bars slidably fulcrumed near their transverse centers on sliding bearing-supports on one of the said frames.

4. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively movable front and rear frames connected by lazy-tongs, of a vertically-swinging mattress-support having end bars slidably fulcrumed near their transverse centers on i sliding bearing-supports on the said rear frame.

5. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively movable front and rear frames connected by lazy-tongs, of a vertically-swinging mattress-support having end bars connected by swinging links with the front frame and shiftingly fulcrumed near their transverse centers on the rear frame,

6. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively movable front and rear frames connected by lazy-tongs, of a vertically-swinging mattress-supporthaving en d bars connecte by swinging links with the front frame and slidably fulcrumed near their transverse center on sliding bearings on the rear frame.

7. In a folding bed, thecombination with relatively movable front and rear frames, of a vertically-swinging mattress-support having end bars connected by swinging links toward opposite sides with the front and rear frames, and slidably fulcrumed near their transverse centers on sliding bearing-supports on the said rear frame.

8. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs and relatively sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of a swinging mattress-support having end bars shiftingly fulcrumed near their transverse centers on the said rear posts and swinging link connections between the said bars and the said front posts.

9. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs and relativly sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of a swinging mattress-support having end bars shiftingly fulcrumed near their transverse centers on the said rear posts, and

swinging link connections between the said bars and the said front and rear posts at opposite sides of the end-bar fulcrums.

10. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs and relatively sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of forward-extending arms upon the said posts, and a vertically-swinging mattresssupport having end bars slidably fulcrumed near their transverse centers upon the said arms.

1 1. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs, and relatively sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of forward-extending arms upon the said rear posts, sliding bearing extensions on the said arms, and a vertically-swinging mattress-support having end bars fulcrumed near their transverse centers upon said bearing extensions.

12. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs, and relatively sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of forward-extending arms upon the rear posts, sliding bearing extensions on the said arms, .and a vertically-swinging mattress-support having end bars slidably fulcrumed near their transverse centers upon said bearing extensions.

13. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs, and relatively slidy ing front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of forward-extending arms upon the rear posts, a vertically-swinging mattresssupport having end bars fulcrumed near their transverse centers upon said arms, and link connections between the saidl end bars and the front and rear posts.

14. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs, .and relatively sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of forward-extending arms upon the rear posts, sliding bearing extensions on the said arms, a vertically-swinging mattresssupport having end bars fulcrumed near their transverse centers upon said bearing extensions, and link connections between the said end bars and the said front and rear posts.

. 15. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs, and relatively sliding front and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of forward-extending arms upon the rear posts, sliding bearing extensions on said arms, a vertically-swinging mattress-support having end bars slidably fulcrumed near their transverse centers upon said bearing extensions, links pivotally connecting the end bars in rear of their fulcrums with the said rear posts, and links pivotally connecting the forward end portions of said end bars with the said front posts.

16. In a folding bed, the combination with relatively sliding front and rear head-posts connected by lazy-tongs, and relatively sliding frontY and rear foot-posts similarly connected, of slotted guide-sleeves on the rear IOO cally-swinging mattress-support having end bars fulcrurned near their transverse centers upon said arms, links connecting the said end 15 bars in front of their fulorums with the said liront-post sleeves, and links connecting the said end bars in rear of their fulcrurns with the said rear-post sleeves.

FREDERICK J. I-IUBBARD.

In presence of- CARL G. SCHWARZE, E. G. O TTEN. 

